Six world powers to resume talks on Iran

Six major powers are to resume bargaining next week on a slightly amended draft resolution mandating UN sanctions against Tehran.

Six major powers seeking to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions are to resume bargaining next week on a slightly amended draft resolution mandating UN sanctions against Tehran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a Western diplomat has said.

Envoys from the Security Council's five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany are to discuss the draft after the failure of their political masters to find common ground at a meeting earlier this week, the diplomat said on Friday.

The political directors from the six powers met in Paris on Tuesday but failed to agree on the scope of sanctions that should be slapped on Iran by the Security Council to force it to comply with UN demands that it hald sensitive nuclear fuel work.

The diplomat said the amended draft would be circulated later Friday to the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council.

Russia and China -- which have strong economic interests in Iran -- have tried to water down the draft drawn up by France, Britain and Germany, while the United States has sought to harden it.

The European draft would bar trade with Iran in goods related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and impose financial and travel restrictions on persons and agencies involved.

Uranium enrichment is used to make nuclear fuel as well as the core of an atom bomb.